Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-14
TO OUR LAWMAKERS.
An Appeal from IA Butte County Woman
for Protection inf Homes

for Protection of Homes.
EDS. RECORD UNION: l have read the
REcoRD-UNIoN ever since it had an exist
ence. Its clear sounding tones of loyalty
to all that is best in the land; its noble ad-
vocacy of the right for all classes its clear,
good type, are things that have made this
paper household necessity with US. And
so, RECORD UNION, in view of these things,
l have ventured to write you this letter. l
feel that in you the defenseless have
friend.
There exists to-day law in the statute
book of California that is a shame and dis
grace to the State. You are inviting fam
lies to come over and settle up its broad
acres; and while you are doing this l have
come to ask you if you will not also aid in
defending the homes already established
here?
All homes built upon all lands in this
State, excepting U. S. HOMESTEAD lands,
belong wholly and entirely to the husband.
Nc matter how faithfully the wife has
toiled through all the best years of her life
to help make that home, no matter how
much time she has given to its inward and
outward adjoining, she has no legal right
to it whatever. Her husband can convey
it away from her and their children, with
out her knowledge or consent and leave
them dependent upon the world. Shame
on YOU, lawmakers of California for such
law as this
Not many months since l stood by one
poor toiling woman, whose home had been
lost to her for three years, and she had just
been informed of the fact. Interest had
been added to principal Youth and
strength had long since left her. A look
of anguish and dismay had settled upon
her face that will haunt me while memory
lasts.
Looking out from that fair valley home,
and to the encircling hills beyond, she
aueried thus What can l do to release
from the grasp of that legal robber this
home that is rightfully mine?" Nothing
could be done. All was gone! Irretriey-
ably gone.
Other women have Lseen who have been
thrust out from their homes, attended by
small children, to gain living as best they
could. And so say to you Lawmakers now
assembled at Sacramento, that unless this
law is changed, you will soon have an
array of pioneer pauper women in your
midst that will be pitIful to behold. Too
old to build anew, hope and ambition gone,
they will exc out an existence as best they
This is no fanciful picture; it is truth
These women came to California in the
long ago by sea and land-came with youth
and health upon their brows. They
have given all their middle life to the
building of homes that are now the delight
of all Eastern tourists but what is Cali
fornia doing fol- these aged pioneer women?
Thrusting them out from these homes I'M
der sanction of law. Great Heavens Let
us pray
Yes my toiling sisters, throughout the
length and breadth of California, let us
pray Let us go 10 our law makers, and,
on Bonded knees before them, plead with
them for the total extinction of this cruel
and unjust law. Let us entreat of them,
in the name of all that is holy-in the
name of mother, wife and sister, to deal
Justly with us.
Let us tell them that this law is great
injury to the best interests of this great and
growing State that it is sowing the seeds
of discord in many homes, leaving dark
shadows upon many thresholds that time
will never obliterate. We will tell them
the State homestead Jaw to which they re-
fer US has never been heard of by one half
the women of the State, and when heard
OF by those whose homes have been stolen
from them, it is too late then to seek its
protection that its application to any
home brings with it dstrust and aliena-
ton.
But we will inplore them to make dur
ing the present session of this Legislature
law that will give to all women through
out the State a legal title to their homes
whether built upon railroad, school or
mineral land Let the law so read that all
such homes located upon these lands
shall not be conveyed away from the
| wife, either by assignment or mortgage
without her consent and signature
We shall find among these lawmakers
young men who, during the months pre-
our mountain pines. seeking legislative
honors, and glorying in the title of Native
Sons. They threw out these inspiring
WORDS to other young MEN, who caught the
inspiration and gave them the coveted
prize. Can these Native Sons forget the
| Pioneer Mothers?
/; And now, dear RECORD UNION, we make
| with you our closing prayer. If | have
| read your words Alright these many years,
you will say that the lowliest woman in
| the land should have legal title to her
home and earnings.
Can YOU not, from your exalted position,
reach the hearts of our Legislators, some of
whom have families that may one day
need the sympathy of those around them
| Will you not plead with them to make,
during this present session of the Legisla-
ture, law that shall give TO the women of
California legal title to their homes and
| 6resides A BUTTE COUNTY WOMAN.
i